Here’s how the past few days of the World Cup went.
NEW ZEALAND 179-3 DEF. WEST INDIES 177 ALL OUT BY SEVEN WICKETS
Calypso Collapso, Part one.
In a preview that I wrote for the paper I work for, I identified three players the West Indies needed to come up big if this team had any chance of winning: Lara, Gayle, Chanderpaul.
In this match, Chris Gayle did make 44 and Brian Lara made 37. But Shivnarine Chaderpaul was dismissed for 4 and all the young guns that the West Indies were boasting before the tournament failed to fire.
It was an easy target for New Zealand to chase. Scott Styris made 80. Captain Stephen Fleming made 45. And the West Indies made a statement that they intend to once again make good of their perennial “sleeper pick” status and make the semi-finals.
ENGLAND 266-7 DEF. IRELAND 218 ALL OUT BY 48 RUNS
Do we give Ireland credit here for being competitive with England or do we dismiss this as two Super Eight filler teams.
Paul Collingwood helped propel this win with a 90 in the middle of the batting order. Kevin Pietersen (48) continued his stellar batting.
Niall O’Brien made a nice 63 to help Ireland’s cause. But they lost four wickets to the bowl of Andrew Flintoff, who has to keep his concentration on the field and off the pubs for the remainder of this competition if England is to be taken seriously.
AUSTRALIA 106 FOR 0 DEF BANGLADESH 104-6 BY 10 WICKETS
After a five-hour rain delay, the two teams played a 22-over match. Bangladesh Saqibul Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza (25 each) were the best of the batsmen who had a difficult time with Australia’s bowling attack led by Glenn McGrath who took three wickets.
Good news/bad news for Bangladesh’s bowlers. They gave up no “extras” (wides, no-balls, leg-byes), but they also allowed Adam Gilchrist (59) and Matthew Hayden (47) to reach the target themselves.
Australia is unstoppable at this point.
SRI LANKA 303-5 DEF WEST INDIES 190 ALL OUT BY 113 RUNS
Calypso Collapso, part two.
Sanath Jayasuriya made 115 and captain Mahela Jayawardene made 82, taking full advantage of poor West Indian bowling and fielding. It was a dismal performance by the locals.
Chanderpaul redeemed himself making 76 but when Gayle is dismissed for 10 and Lara is stumped by a sharp play by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara for just two, it was lights out for the Windies.
Lasith Malinga, man of many haircolours, continues to be bowling monster while Chaminder Vaas delivered one of the sweetest bowls of the entire tournament in his dismissal of Dwayne Bravo.
The tournament continues.
